Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Medieval Dublin
Viking Dublin was largely built of not-so-durable wood, of which there's virtually no trace
left. The Norman footprint is a little deeper, but even its most impressive structures have
been heavily reconstructed. The imposing Dublin Castle - or the complex of buildings that
are known as Dublin Castle - bears little resemblance to the fortress that was erected by the
Anglo-Normans at the beginning of the 13th century and owes more to the neoclassical
style of the 17th century. However, there are some fascinating glimpses of the lower
reaches of the original, which you can visit on a tour.
Although the 12th-century cathedrals of Christ Church and St Patrick's were heavily re-
built in Victorian times, there are some original features, including the crypt in Christ
Church, which has a 12th-century Romanesque door. The older of the two St Audoen's
Churches dates from 1190 and it too has a few Norman odds and ends, including a
late-12th-century doorway.
